I was sick and tired of waking up every morning with a new growth on my face. This was primarily the main reason for my $30 purchase of Neutrogena’s Advances Solutions At Home MicroDermabrasion System. I wanted a solution to the problem, and I figured this kit would give me the answer.
I purchased the Neutrogena Advanced Solutions at Home MicroDermabrasion System at Costco’s, and with a $5 off coupon, I figured I might as well give it a try. My kit came with extras seeing how I bought it at Costco’s. Everything is the same, and the price is much cheaper.
A standard Neutrogena Advanced Solutions at Home MicroDermabrasion System kit comes with Micro- Oxide Crystallized Cream. 2.6oz. A system applicator, 2 soft sponge heads, 2 AA batteries, and a stand to place the wand in when not in use. Costco’s big sister is the same thing, only the kit came with 2 jars of cream and 4 sponge heads.
You will need to buy refills of the cream, and refills on the sponge heads if you do not clean them properly.
After reading the promises on the outside of the box, I placed it into my cart without so much as thinking that I was getting ripped off.
The Neutrogena Advanced Solutions at Home MicroDermabrasion System promise, TAKEN FROM THE BOX:
Day 1: Immediately enhances surface cell turnover for visibly fresher, smoother, baby soft skin.
Week 1: Boosts skin clarity for visibly brighter skin that glows with youthful radiance.
Week 4: Diminishes the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and sun damage.
My Use:
When I got home to put the system to use I noticed that Neutrogena Advanced Solutions at Home MicroDermabrasion System was pretty simple to use. You clip one of the sponge heads onto the wand, insert the batteries, dip the sponge head into the cream, and dab it onto problem areas before turning the wand on.
There are two settings on it. You can put it on a high speed for a real good facial scrubbin’, or low speed for a softer scrub.
After you choose your settings you simply massage the cream into your skin using the wands sponge head.
I thought at first that it was going to hurt seeing how the cream was slightly abrasive looking. However even at the high speed I set the wand on, the only sensation I got was a tickling feeling.
Issue:
If you apply too much cream it gathers on to the sides of the sponge and will fall on to your shirt or to the floor, so honestly you don’t need to use giant globs of cream on your problem areas, just a small quarter sized amount dabbed on to each area will do just fine.
You are to massage the cream into your problem areas for 5 minutes using the wand.
This is where I had a problem with directions. Did they want me to massage each problem area for 5 minutes, or massage my entire face for 5 minutes? I choose the most obvious and massaged each individual problem area for 5 minutes, turning this exfoliation session into a grueling 20 minutes. My nose, my cheeks, my forehead, and my chin each got a 5-minute massage.
Next you simply rinse off. I figured once I rinsed off my face would be really red from the gritty cream, but after rinsing off it actually looked more like a slight beginning of a sun burn. My face felt cool and relaxed afterward.
You also MUST rinse off the sponge applicator with warm water. Don’t use any soap. Next you simply let the sponge applicator air-dry. (I usually pat dry it on a towel, and nothing bad has happened to it.)
As I began cleaning the mess up from the kit, I then felt my face.
I could feel how smooth my skin was. It definitely was what the box promised. Baby soft. However this baby soft feeling was masked with something else I know all too well. My face felt slightly greasy.
Not overly greasy to the point where I had to wash my face again, but I could surely feel something else coating my skin other than my very own baby soft skin. Something was masking the truth. And I feared that perhaps whatever this greasy feeling was would make me break out. My face usually reacts badly with any lotion I apply, so I was very nervous about this weird slimy eel like skin that I had going on.
No, I woke up pimple free, but my face no longer felt baby soft.
After following the schedule that comes with the system, I could feel softer skin on my face there was no denying that. But that was it. I was expecting more after using this for nearly 6 months. I wanted to see the whole promise, I wanted to see smaller pores, and a healthy glow.
The glow is only present temporarily until the cream is absorbed fully and then the glow goes away, and it’s right back to dull face. The healthy glow lasts for about 4 hours. Then it’s gone till I use the kit again.
Schedule Issues:
One thing I disliked about Neutrogena Advanced Solutions at Home MicroDermabrasion System is that I have to follow Neutrogena’s schedule. It is recommended that I use it for 5 days straight, every night, and then skip a week. After skipping the week I should then use the system 3 times a week.
Okay, easy enough. But should I do it 3 days in a row or is that bad? Do I skip a day in between?
The instructions are sort of vague, and I really do hate taking instructions from machines. I would like to use it whenever I want, but fear the outcome if I don’t follow instructions.
If you experience irritation or discomfort, use less frequently. If irritation continues, consult your dermatologist.
Sheesh, that’s good to know… but I’m sure there are plenty of folks out there like me that don’t have a dermatologist.
But wait, that’s okay, Neutrogena gives you a number to call. How nice of them. 1-877-399-2525. I bet they’ll tell you to call a dermatologist, or discontinue use all together.
That would be the brightest of solutions. I don’t know why Neutrogena would recommend using it less frequently. Any normal person is going to either throw it or, or ask for a refund, or…sue them if something weird happens to their skin.
Overall Opinion:
The Neutrogena Advanced Solutions at Home MicroDermabrasion System does work; I’ll give it that.
However the glowing soft results last for only about 4 hours, and it does not give any long term permanent benefit to the skin. My fine lines are still just as visible as they were when I bought the machine, my pores are the exact same size…I know; I’ve been studying this big one I have like crazy!
Recommendation:
If you don’t mind having only a 4-hour skin change then skip this one. It’s really a huge waste of time, and money.
Star Call:
1 star for making my skin soft
1 stars for not making me break out
-1 for the temporary results
-1 for the mess it causes, even after using less cream
-1 for the crazy scheduling instructions
Overall Star Rating:
Neutrogena Advanced Solutions at Home MicroDermabrasion System gets 2 stars out of 5. It’s a skip.
